Welcome to our complete report on air pollution, today with a focus on fine PM 10 particles.
At R-PUR, we are convinced that a global understanding of air pollution would make it possible to change mentalities more quickly.
We are therefore keen to simply explain what these invisible and odorless particles are that do a lot of damage to our body.
You can also find our complete file to easily understand air pollution .
What is PM10? Definition and measurement.
Particulate matter or PM (Particulate Matter in English) is a physical particle: it is therefore defined by a size (unlike a gas)
PM10 is 4 times thicker than PM 2.5.
More commonly called coarse particles, PM10 are not always visible, since their size is equivalent to 10 microns: they are therefore 6 to 8 times smaller than the thickness of a hair.
On a daily basis, to determine whether the atmosphere is polluted, we base ourselves on the AQI which is an air quality index.
The AQI is calculated by taking into account the measurements of the six main pollutants: PM10 is the largest measured suspended physical particle in this index.
You will soon be able to find more information on the AQI in an article dedicated to air pollution.
What are coarse particles and where do they come from?
You can now visualize what PM10 suspended particles represent, the question now is to know where they come from.
As a reminder, PM (particulate matter) is classified only by its size. Their origins can therefore be varied.
These suspended particles are emitted both by human activities and by nature.
They can therefore be of natural origin, during volcanic eruptions, forest fires or soil erosion.
These fine particles then appear in the form of ash, soot, smoke, etc.
But they are also largely caused by human activities. Here are the 3 main sectors generating PM10 in France:
- Domestic heating, particularly with wood heating of homes in winter.
- Road transport. Vehicles running on Diesel are particularly responsible.
- Industries.
To what extent are we exposed to PM10 in Île de France?
Beware of pollution episodes: the WHO recommends not exceeding 20 µg/m3 of PM10 in average annual concentrations.
In 2018, 60,000 Parisians were affected by exceeding WHO recommendations according to AirParif.
If we look at this graph from studies carried out by AirParif , the average PM10 levels in urban areas and outside urban areas in Île-de-France are decreasing each year.
Despite a satisfactory downward trend, it is important to keep in mind that this graph only represents one of the six main pollutants.
It is also important to remember that there is no threshold below which PM10 would not have harmful effects on health.
What does the World Health Organization (WHO) say about these effects?
The finer a particle is, the deeper it will enter our respiratory system.
Any particle greater than or equal to PM10 size will see its path stop in the upper airways.
This particle will therefore be retained before it can enter your lungs.
We are therefore talking here about cough, itchy eyes, irritated throat, but also acute health effects such as inflammatory reactions of the lungs, respiratory symptoms and cardiovascular manifestations.
We can then ask ourselves what to do about these particles polluting our atmosphere and which alter the quality of our air in or outside urban areas.
What actions should we take in the face of PM10 and other air pollutants?
First of all, by contributing to the reduction of their emissions. To do this, you can:
- Reduce your car journeys
- Prioritize your travel by bike
- Use heating sparingly
- Limit wood heating
But also by protecting yourself from this pollution by avoiding strong episodes of pollution on the one hand, but also by filtering them by wearing a suitable mask.
How to filter PM10 and PM 2.5 fine particles? What about anti-pollution masks?
When air quality is not good, such as during episodes of pollution or pollen, more and more people affected by the problem seek to protect themselves.
They can then turn to an anti-pollution mask.
Two essential parameters must then be taken into account:
Effectiveness: what pollutants will my mask filter, and to what size?
Hermeticity: in other words, will outside air enter my mask?
For example, if 40% of the air were to enter your mask, which is the most efficient in the world, there would not be much point in wearing it in the middle of road traffic.
At R-PUR, we have therefore developed a solution that perfectly meets these two criteria:
We filter particles with a size of 50 nanometers, or 50 times smaller than PM2.5, so the efficiency is there.
In terms of airtightness, depending on the shape of your face, we will filter 99.86% to 99.98% of the outside air: we can therefore assure you, you will be warm in your mask.
In the short term, all effects of coughing and irritation will disappear.
As for the long-term effects, your body will thank you.